Centre opens up Arunachal for foreign tourists

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) The Centre has relaxed the Protected Area Regime in Arunachal Pradesh, opening up the state for foreign tourists.

The entire area of Arunachal Pradesh was covered by the Protected Area Regime under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958.

An official release said here today that the government had now decided, after consultations with all concerned, to open a few tour circuits for the foreign tourists.

The tour circuits so opened are : along Mechukha, existing Pasighat-Jenging-Yiungkiong to be extended up to Tuting, Daporijo-Nacho Circuit via Taliha and Sayum, Ziro-Palin-Nyapin-Sangram-Kaloriang and Doimukh-Sagalee-Pakee Kasang-Seppa.

The statement said it had also been decided to delegate powers to the Arunachal Pradesh government for issue of Protected Area Permit (PAP) to foreign tourists visiting in a group of two or more persons (as against the existing requirement of group strength of four or more persons) for a maximum period of 30 days.

The state government can also issue PAP to a group of two foreign tourists even if they are not married couples and to foreigners married to Indian nationals belonging to the state of Arunachal Pradesh for visiting the state on tourist visas.

"These relaxations are likely to increase the flow of foreign tourists to Arunachal Pradesh," the statement said.

UNI SH RSA AS1809